Hong Kong welcomed 13 per cent more visitors in the first half of the year compared with the same period in 2025, as it hosted more mega-events and the Airport Authority stepped up efforts to add destinations to boost tourism.
Tourism minister Rosanna Law Shuk-pui revealed on Wednesday that visitor arrivals reached about 26.71 million in the first six months of 2026, representing an annual increase of 13 per cent.
Visitors from mainland China and foreign tourists increased by 16 per cent and 5 per cent respectively, she said.
“Regarding visitor spending, there is a structural shift in visitor consumption patterns, moving from a previous focus on shopping to a greater emphasis on culture and experiences,” she told the Legislative Council.
Law pointed out that in recent years, per capita spending by overnight and same-day visitors was more than HK$5,000 (US$638) and HK$1,000 respectively.
According to the Tourism Board, per capita spending of overnight visitors rose slightly from HK$5,490 in 2024 to HK$5,503 last year, and was forecast to increase slightly to HK$5,530 in 2026.
